Gemotions

The email notification chimed, and a wave of pure, unfiltered ire washed over David. The subject line: "Friend Request." From Kyle Peterson. He nearly choked. He felt his hands begin to shake.

He couldn't breathe. The air in the room felt thick, heavy. He clicked on the email, his cursor hovering over the "Decline" button. The picture – a posed, confident smirk – was like a slap in the face.

His jaw tightened. The memories flooded back. The playground, the lockers, the endless teasing. He felt a surge of resentment, so potent it stole the air from his lungs. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to make him feel a fraction of the pain he’d inflicted.